A Southampton native will be trying to return the Huron-Bruce riding to Liberal red during this year's provincial election.
Don Matheson was acclaimed as the Liberal candidate during a nomination meeting in Lucknow on Saturday, which was attended by about 30 party faithful.
Matheson, a Saugeen Shores councillor and teacher at Saugeen District Secondary School in Port Elgin, says the riding is very much up for grabs, and plans to run on recent Liberal policies, pointing out the minimum wage increase and pharmacare plan for those under-25 will make a big difference to families who need help the most.
He says it's also a pivotal time for the riding of Huron-Bruce, pointing specifically to the growth expected with the planned refurbishment of the Bruce Power site over the next two decades.
Matheson says if he's elected as MPP, he won't be a quiet representative.
"You'll get tireless energy, a voice and somebody who listens, that's the big thing," says Matheson. "I know, living here, that we're looking at some huge growth potential and I want Huron-Bruce to be able to accept what's going on, I want the businesses to come to Huron-Bruce and I want our communities to benefit from that."
Matheson says he's ready to start campaigning, vowing to knock on every door in the riding.
"My campaign managers have mapped out where we'll go, what towns and when, starting in Southampton and Port Elgin, we'll do those at night," says Matheson. "Once we get into February and March, we'll be heading down south, getting into Clinton, Goderich, Seaforth, Exeter, getting everywhere we can."
Matheson will be challenging incumbent Progressive Conservative Lisa Thompson, who is seeking her third term as MPP, while the NDP have yet to nominate a candidate.
Huron-Bruce Liberal candidate Don Matheson (2nd from right) with his family, son Nic, wife Sarah and daughter Victoria. (Jordan MacKinnon photo)